Roller attachment for sleighs



Patented Aug. 9, |898.

J. C. PERKINS.

ROLLER ATTAGHMENTFOR SLEIGHS.

(Applicatio med Feb. 17, 159s.)

(No Model.)

/NVE/VY'OH ATTORNEYS.

UNITE' 4TETES JAMES O'. PERKINS,

OE INwOOD, IOWA.

ROLLER ATTACHMENT FOR emmen-Is.

SPECIFICATION forming partrof Letters Patent No. 608,904, dated AugustQ, 18981. Application filed February 17, 1898. Serial No. 670,651. (Noniodel.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES C. PERKINS, of Inwood, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Roller Attachment for Sleighs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to roller attachments for sleighs, sleds, cutters, or the like; and the object is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive roller attachment and operating mechanism which shall be partly automatic, whereby the runners may be lifted and held above the surface Ofbare ground, bridges, or the like, so that the sleigh may be drawn forward in the manner of a wheeled vehicle, thus Obviating the frietional resist'- ancc that would otherwise occur.

I will describe a roller attachment for sleighs embodying my improvement and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a sleigh having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the roller-supporting hanger, and Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof.A p

In the drawings I have only shown the device as attached to one runner and at the forward end thereof 5 but it is to be understood that the devices will be employed at each side of the sleigh and that any desired number may be employed, not less, however, than four.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a sleigh-runner, 2 a knee thereof, and 3 a bol ster. Pivotally connected to the runner is a hanger d. This hanger is pivoted at its forward end to the front end of the runner. It is made with two side sections 5 6, suitably connected together at the ends, and the free end of the hanger is turned upward at a slight angle relatively to the main portion. Each sido portion near its lower edge is provided with a longitudinal slot 7 which at the free endof the hanger curves slightly upward, as at S.

'A roller 9 has its trunnions 10 extended loosely into the slot 7, and as a means for holding the hanger both in its operative and inoperative positions I employ a keeper-block ll, mounted to swing on a rod connected to plates 12, extended rearward from the knee 2. The keeper-block has a shoe portion 13, designed to engage with the hanger and hold it in either of its adjusted positions. The keeper-block is held yieldingly by means of a plate-spring 14., secured at one end to the knee 2 and bearing against the block opposite its pivotal` point.

In operation, upon reaching bare ground l or the like the several hangers are to be let down and the keeper-blocks swung downward to engage upon the upper surface thereof. As the sleigh is drawn forward the rollers will be moved to the ends of the slots 7, and thus gradually lift the runners free from the ground, and the end Walls of the slots will form bearings for the roller-trunnions. Vhen the rollers are not required for use, the hangers are to be turned upward and the keepers turned to engage therewith, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

' B y providing the hangers with slots ,in which the trunnions may freely move, it is Obvious that by running down an incline upon a forward movement of the sleigh the sleigh will be automatically lifted, or, in other words, without exertion on the part ofthe driver.

.As the roller runs down it will engage against the plate 15 on the upper side of the hanger. This will cause the roller to move down more rapidly, as its trunnions will be held free from the upper walls of the slots 7.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. An attachment for a' sleigh ory the like, comprising a hangerY having longitudinallyslotted side portions,`a plate attached to the top of the side portions, and a roller in the hanger, substantially as specied.

2. ,An attachment for a sleigh or the like,

comprising a longitudinally slotted, vertitions and having its trunnions extended into Io cally swinging hanger, a roller having its the slots, and a swinging keeper for holding trunnions extended into the slot, and means the hanger in both its operative and inoperafor holding the hanger in its adjusted positive positions, substantially as speoied.

5 tions substantially as specified.

3. 7An attachment for a sleigh o1' the like, JAMES C' PERKINS" comprising a hanger pivoted to the runner, Witnesses: and consisting of two longitudinally-slotted B. H. PERKINS,

side portions, a roller between the side por- M. E. PERKINS. 

